Page 3 - AAA Now! – AAA Shelby County – November/December 2022

CEO'S MESSAGE
AAA
Volume 5, No. 3
TM
HEADQUARTERS OFFICE
920 Wapakoneta Avenue Sidney, OH 45365 937-492-3167 ~ 800-274-3129
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Friday 9:00AM ~ 5:00PM Closed Saturday/Sunday
OFFICERS
Deborah L. Barga
Chief Executive Officer
Gerald Wehrman
Board President
Kenneth Francis
1st Vice President
Thomas Kerrigan
2nd Vice President
Jeff Replogle
3rd Vice President
DIRECTORS
Stanley Evans...................Sidney Mitch Steinke ............ Jackson Center Mary Lou Holly ...............Sidney Tim Gleason.....................Sidney Todd Lotz .................. Jackson Center Mike McRill...................... Anna
Jay Putnam ..................... Conover Hope Abke .......................Sidney
Judie Karhan
Editor-in-Chief
Tina Cathcart
Regional Editor
AAA NOW! (ISSN#1097-1851) (ISSN) is published four times a year (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, July/Aug, Nov/Dec) by AAA Shelby County, 920 Wapakoneta Ave, Sidney, Ohio 45365. Periodicals mail postage paid at Sidney, OH and other additional mailing offices. A subscription price of $1.50 annually is paid through membership dues.
Postmaster: Please send address changes to AAA Shelby County/AAA NOW!, 920 Wapakoneta Ave. Sidney, Ohio 45365. Change of Address: Allow six weeks advance notice. Send new address and mailing label from latest issue to AAA Shelby County/AAA NOW!, 920 Wapakoneta Ave. Sidney, Ohio 45365.
AAA does not endorse any product or service advertised in this publication other than AAA club services and products. The publisher of AAA NOW! does not endorse or make any representations or warranties concerning any service or product advertised in this publication. The published is not liable to any advertiser or reader for any errors or omissions in advertising or editorial copy appearing in this publication, provided, however, that the publisher will print a correction after the publisher has been notified of an error or omission.
Bad Medicine?
Many Drivers Hit the Road on Potentially Impairing Medications
AAA Foundation Study Finds Doctors’ Warnings Often Ineffective or Ignored
Deborah Barga, CEO, AAA Shelby County
By Andrew Gross
Manager, AAA Public Relations
Nearly half of the drivers surveyed said they used one or more potentially impairing medications in
the past 30 days, according to new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The proportion of those choosing to drive is higher among those taking multiple medications.
by their healthcare provider regarding the possible dangerous impact on driving.
Moreover, drivers who take one or more of these medications may be unaware of the possible impacts on their driving ability. Many potentially driver impairing (PDI) medications have potential effects that can be dangerous when mixed with driving, including dizziness, sleepiness, fainting, blurred vision, slowed movement, and attention problems.
AAA recommends that the advice given by medical and pharmacy professionals about the dangers of mixing over the counter and prescribed medications with driving must be vastly improved and more consistently emphasized to maximize safety.
“Our research finds that many drivers are taking one or more potentially impairing medications before getting behind the wheel,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “It is important for medical professionals to offer clear consultation to their patients of the possible risks and ensure they understand them.”
This study focused on the prevalence of recent use by drivers of commonly used prescriptions and over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, cough medicines, antidepressants, prescription pain medicines, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, and amphetamines. These are PDI medications, but not all drivers who reported taking them were impaired. As the term implies, PDI medications can potentially impair driving, but effects in individuals may vary.
Antihistamines and cough medicines – many available without a prescription – were most commonly used. However, the proportion of drivers that reported driving after use was highest for those who reported amphetamine use, such as Adderall and Dexedrine.
Research results found that up to half of drivers who were prescribed and took each type of PDI medication did not report receiving a warning from their medical provider or pharmacist regarding its possible impacts on driving.
Continued on page 4
More concerning, many who took these medications to combat depression, pain, or sleep issues were not warned
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP
Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation of AAA NOW!. Publication No. 002-292. Filing Date 9/282022. Issue Frequency: Quarterly. Number of Issues Published Annually: 4. Annual Subscription Price: $1.50 per copy. Owner: AAA Shelby County, 920 Wapakoneta Avenue, Sidney, OH. 45365. Mailing Address: Same as headquarters. Editor: Deb Barga, AAA Shelby County, 920 Wapakoneta Avenue, Sidney, OH. 45365. Managing Editor: Judie Karhan, 28338 Constellation Rd. Unit 990, Valencia, CA. 91355. Known Bondholders, mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning of Holding 1% or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. Publication Name: AAA NOW!. Issue Dates for Circulation Data Below: Sept/Oct 2022.
A. Total no of copies (net press run)
B. Paid circulation
1. Paid/requestedoutsidemailsubscriptions
stated on form 3541
2. Paid in county subscription
3. Sales through dealers and carriers,
street vendors, counter sale, and other
USPS paid distribution centers
4. Requestedcopiesmailedthroughother
USPS classes
C. Total paid and/or requested circulation: D. Freedistributionbymail
(samples, complementary, and other free)
1. Outside county as stated on form 3541
2. In-county as stated on form 3541
3. Other classes mailed through USPS
4. Freedistributionoutsidethemail
(carriers or other means)
E. Total free distribution
F. Total distribution
G. Copies not distributed
H. Total
I. Percent paid
Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months
8,285
5,475 0
0
0 5,475
2,752 0
0
0 2,752 8,227 58 8,285 100%
No. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date
8,232
5,481 0
0
0 5,481
2,691 0
0
0 2,691 8,172 60 8,232 100%
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
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